Starlet Sea Anemone (Nematostella vectensis)
Key Details
| Taxonomic Groups: | Invertebrate > coelenterate (=cnidarian) > Cnidarian |
| Red List Status: | (Not Relevant) [(not listed)(nr)] |
| D5 Status: | |
| Section 41 Status: | (not listed) |
| Taxa Included Synonym: | (none) |
| UKSI Recommended Name: | Nematostella vectensis |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | Stephenson, 1935 |
| UKSI Recommended Qualifier: | (none specified) |
| Red List Citation: | (not listed) |
| Notes on taxonomy/listing: | (none) |
Criteria
| Question 1: | Does species need conservation or recovery in England? |
| Response: | No |
| Justification: | Considered a non-native species, based on numerous sources and evidence types (genetic, distribution etc.) |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | No |
| Justification: | Associated with recently burnt areas of coniferous woodland and strongly attracted to fires on heathland and in coniferous forest, where it is found under pieces of burnt wood or under the bark of trees damaged by fire. There is evidence of long-distance flight dispersal and that it remains on a site for no more than two years after burning. A single record from 1980 is the only one in the modern period. This species is prone to extreme fluctuations in geographic range, having been extremely rare in the nineteenth century and it is possible that British records may partly relate to long-range dispersers from the continent. Given its ecological requirements, in addition to the transient and highly dynamic nature of populations, it does not seem a suitable species for recovery actions. |
| Question 3: | At a landscape scale, would the species benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages? |
| Response: | N/A |
| Justification: |
Species Assessment
Not relevant as no Key Actions defined.
Key Actions
No Key Actions Defined
Acknowledgment:
Data used on this website are adapted from Threatened species recovery actions 2025 baseline (JP065): Technical report and spreadsheet user guide (Natural England, 2025). Available here.